Campaign against the Tory cuts budget - for the record

The campaign against government cuts to public services scored a major victory in Brighton and Hove when the council budget, drawn up by the minority Tory administration, was amended by a combined opposition led by Green and Labour councillors.

The Tories' dismal budget proposals boasted a 1% cut in council tax (saving around £14 a year for most people), against £23m in spending savings, at the cost of hundreds of front line jobs including youth and services. Meanwhile, extraordinary items of expenditure included £1.1m to demolish Hove's Flagship cycle freeway, and £4.5m to make improvement's to Hove's car parks. Opposition was furious and resulted in the worst parts of the budget being overturned. However, the Labour Councillors ultimately refused to join the Greens in trying to get the budget thrown out altogether.

The following is the report of what Greens and other opponents of the cuts achieved. First published in St Peters and North Laine Green Party Spring Newsletter.

Greens stand firm in opposing Tory cuts Budget
March 2011. More devastating cuts from the Tory-led government have hit Brighton & Hove. Greens have successfully fought against Tory ideology which imposes cuts to frontline public services, reduces benefits and increases VAT.

This is when corporation tax is being cut, tax evasion is reaches new heights and the banks remain unreformed. Locally, Green councillors have succeeded in amending the Tory administration’s cynical budget plans.

While the joint amendments removed the sting from the Tory budget, it still meant over £23m of cuts. Opposition parties had been given only a few weeks to study the budget papers which Tory councillors had prepared in secret over many months.

Voting down the budget would have opened a fruitful week of negotiations to improve the budget. Greens also proposed opening the budget decision to wider scrutiny from interest groups and the community.

Labour’s eleventh hour abstention Unfortunately Labour, who had previously said they would join us in opposing the budget, had a last minute change of heart. Labour councillors abstained while Greens voted against, leaving the Tories free to push their budget through.

Greens will keep fighting the Coalition government’s cuts agenda. With over£80m of cuts forced on Brighton & Hove City Council over four years, we believe agree-led council will be the most open, air and compassionate in handling the difficult decisions ahead.

Read the full alternative Green budget at www.brightonhovegreens.org